Henson waived, Orlovsky stays put; Lions sign WR Adam Jennings
It looks like the injured reserve list isn't in Dan Orlovsky's immediate future.
The Lions solved their roster glut of quarterbacks Wednesday -- for now, at least -- by waiving Drew Henson when they claimed receiver Adam Jennings, who was waived Tuesday by Atlanta. Henson, who'd been on the 53-man roster for the last month, still has practice-squad eligibility remaining, so the Lions hope to bring him back if he clears waivers.
Jennings was the Falcons' main punt returner the last two years, right up until his controversial miscue against Philadelphia a couple weeks ago. The Lions beat out the Vikings -- and Seattle, according to the NFL Network -- with their claim for Jennings. I'd imagine we'll see him returning punts either this week or next -- and as the gunner on coverage units -- while Aveion Cason already is slated to return kicks after being re-signed Tuesday.
Orlovsky, who has a torn ligament and two fractures in his right thumb, visited a second orthopedic hand specialist this week and said Wednesday: "I'm gonna try and do everything I can not to have surgery."
That doesn't mean he'll play anytime soon -- "I'm gonna give it time to let it heal on its own and we'll reassess it in a couple weeks," he said -- but it means he's not scrapping his season just yet. He's not hurting his chances to find a job in free agency, though, either. Orlovsky said surgery to repair the ligament damage would require only a six-week recovery, so it's still something he can have done later this fall if needed.
